All sorts of analysis has been made of the pick of Sarah Palin. The Politico gets close with their 6 things the Palin pick says about McCain. But, really, everything is secondary to one simple concept: McCain understood that the base would be ignited, would be thrilled, would be pumped up, excited, engrossed, and fired up about a pick of a good Conservative like Palin.

In my 4 years of blogging, and all my years following the Presidential elections, I have never seen the base so excited. Sure, they were pumped to go vote in 2004, but, how much of that was because they liked Bush and wanted to see Waffles Kerry defeated? Most of us barely approved of Bush’s policies, beyond a few basic ones.

McCain? Well, he seems a nice chap, willing to fight back. He’s for low taxes COUPLED with reduced spending. He’s strong on defense. He’s sorta OK on energy. He detests pork. He does what he thinks is right, not necessarily what it is politically expedient. He thinks we should have border security, but, that is somewhat offset by his stance on illegal immigration. Sometimes he gets a little too cozy with Democrats, but, he typically has the best interest of the country, not the Party, in mind. He has a lifetime Conservative rating of 82.3. He is pro-life.

Is he the best Conservative out there? No. His record puts him on the low end of Conservatives. He fits the bill well for me, as my main concerns are national security, low taxes, reduced spending, limited government, ethical government, States Rights, and, over the past 7 years, illegal immigration. So, he fits the bill.

Palin, though, oh, Palin (how does one make heart icons?)……she fits all the measures that todays conservatives are looking for, plus, she is young, dynamic, attractive, and, real. She is a real person, not a staged politician. A person who fits Real Life. The only thing we do not know about her is her stance on illegal immigration, which wasn’t much of a deal in Alaska, except for the moose wandering over from Canada. Staunchly pro-life. A mother who cares about her kids. For low taxes. Doesn’t let people push her around. She’s not part of a “group,” but, her own person. Massively pro-2nd Amendment.

She is a real reformer, and not afraid to take people on, even in her own party. Good for her. 5 kids, a real working husband who she calls the “First Dude.” And she brings mega-excitement. If you are a conservative, and you weren’t excited like Ralphie on Christmas morning, we need to check your blood pressure and make sure someone hasn’t been slipping you Prozac. And, how can you not get excited by this?

Read the rest of this entry »

Woah! This was highly unexpected, but, perhaps the folks at the Grey Lady decided that their support of feminism and equal rights was more important than electing Democrats. Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms

Her father shot the grizzly bear whose hide is now draped over the sofa in her office. She, too, hunts and fishes. She runs marathons. She delivered her fifth child during her first term as governor. They call her husband, the reigning champion in the annual Iron Dog snowmachine race, First Dude.

Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain’s surprising selection to be his vice-presidential running mate, took Alaska by surprise, too, not long ago. Though indisputably Alaskan, she rose to prominence by bucking the state’s rigid Republican hierarchy, impressing voters more with gumption, warmth and charm than an established record in government.

It was a combination that dumbfounded her rivals.

“She wouldn’t have articulated one coherent policy and people would just be fawning all over her,” said Andrew Halcro, a Republican turned independent, who along with Tony Knowles, a Democrat, ran against Ms. Palin for governor in 2006. “Tony and I looked at each other and it was, like, this isn’t about policy or Alaska issues, this is about people’s most basic instincts: ‘I like you, and you make me feel good.’ ”

I feel no need to comment. Go read the whole thing before someone like Pinch has the article yanked from the web.

From John Boehner’s webpage

House Republicans will be back on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives again Monday to continue the unprecedented protest that began last Friday, when dozens of Republicans joined hundreds of American citizens on the House floor to protest Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) decision to send Congress home for the rest of the summer without a vote on legislation to lower gas prices and move America toward energy independence.

In an urgent memo sent to GOP Members and staff Saturday (“A Call to Action on American Energy”), Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) hailed Friday’s action, which was led by Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN), Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), Tom Price (R-GA), and others, and encouraged House Republicans to return to the Capitol beginning Monday morning to help keep the historic effort going.

“It’s not a request we make lightly. But the American people are suffering,” Boehner and Blunt said in the memo. “The consequences of continued congressional inaction on gas prices are unacceptable. We’ve called on the Speaker to call Congress back into an emergency session this month and schedule a vote on the American Energy Act. We must continue to make a stand until the Speaker complies.”

“We realize not everyone can be in Washington next week. But if you can be, we ask that you come to the Capitol, join our colleagues, and lend your voice, beginning this Monday at 10:00 am,” the GOP leaders wrote. “If you can’t be in Washington, we ask that you contribute to the cause in other ways – such as spreading the word among your constituents, writing an op-ed for your local newspaper, or taking our ‘all of the above’ energy message to your local airwaves.”

“Republicans stand with the American people. We share their passion and determination for energy independence, and we’ve pledged to fight boldly until Congress heeds their will,” Boehner and Blunt concluded.

Everyone was wondering if Friday was a one shot deal by the GOP, then off to vacation land. Now we know. Good for them.

I wonder how much coverage they will receive? Hopefully, they have some media lined up, and have their laptops, cell phones, and video cameras charged up. Perhaps one of them could hook up a webcam to take in the whole thing live.

Meanwhile, Queen Nancy was on ABC with George Stephanoppulos, and did not do so well. She deflected all over the place as he repeatedly asked her about drilling, and allowing a vote. This part I love

STEPHANOPOULOS: But why not allow votes on all that? When you came in as Speaker you promised in your commitment book “A New Direction for America,” let me show our viewers, you said that “Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full, fair debate consisting of full amendment process that grants the Minority the right to offer its alternatives.” If they want to offer a drilling proposal, why can’t they have a vote?

PELOSI: They’ll have to use their imagination as to how they can get a vote and then they may get a vote. What I am trying to, we have serious policy issues in our country. The President of the United States has presented this but for this our economy would be booming. But for this, gas would be cheaper at the pump. It’s simply not true. Even the President himself in his statement yesterday and before then has said, there is no quick fix for this by drilling.

No, there is no quick fix. Except that even the possibility of drilling brings down gas prices. Two weeks ago gas was averaging around $4 here in Raleigh, now you can easily find it around $3.83 or less. Just because President Bush rescinded the presidential block on offshore drilling.

Does Nancy have another idea? Perhaps she should put it forth.

Back on July 8th, I mentioned the Democrats are going to be having Platform meetings from July 19th to July 27 (which is a good way to keep the unhinged off the streets), to come up with the Democrat Party platform. I was not particularly nice about it

Apparently, Senator Neophyte isn’t capable of actually figuring out where he stands anymore, so he has to ask others to do it. Hope! Change! Absence of leadership and vision!

So, what do I see while perusing ye olde Bloglines at the American Princess’ place? E.M. has a post up about the GOP soliciting ideas for its own platform, and she writes

The TechCrunch articleasks why the Democrats haven’t launched a similar measure, to which I respond — two reasons: one, they aren’t stupid enough to advertise to the entire Internet that their party lacks a cohesive platform which will drive voters to the polling booths in November, and two, they probably had something similar on MyBarackObama.com, they realized it failed and went back to traditional social networking.

Sigh. The RNC (website here, and Facebook app here) is doing the same dumb thing as the Democrats, allowing the masses to pick the platform. On the surface, that is not a bad idea, involving the voters in picking the what the Parties should focus on. Then you start thinking, and realize that 1. people who have no intention of voting Republican are going to register and leave comments, 2. Republicans are just not in to the whole Internet social sheepling like Democrats, as we are too independent minded, and 3. maybe the RNC should already friggin’ know what the Republican voters want them to do by now. Oh, and 4. how about some leadership, RNC? Number 3 applies to Democrats, as well.

So, what are the policy positions that are important to people who vote Republican?

Limited government, stopping illegal immigration, national security, stopping gay marriage, love of America, reducing the scope of the federal government, low taxes, reducing government spending, wiser and more cost efficient spending, defeating Islamic extremism, doing away with some federal departments (such as the Dept. of Education), support of the 2nd Amendment, the Fair Tax, drilling on American “soil,” support for Christian ideals, support of the family, workfare not welfare, re-institution of the 9th and 10th Amendments.

Obviously, not all float every-ones boat, and there are certainly more.

For those who vote Dem?

Impeachment, socialized/nationalized healthcare, fixing anthropogenic global warming, putting America’s security in the hands of the U.N., pie in the sky energy programs, increasing taxes on the wealthy (i.e., those in a different tax bracket then the responder), more federal government involvement in everything (except the military, which needs to be reduced), legalizing illegal immigrants, instituting the Fairness Doctrine, gun restriction, reducing religion, military action that has no bearing on national security (but running away when something goes wrong), treating with terrorist leaders, and surrender in Iraq.

What did I miss?

In all seriousness, when it comes to deciding what to concentrate on, experts will say to concentrate on no more the 3 things, otherwise, focus gets lost. If you could pick three specific things to get done first, what would they be? For me, reduce federal spending, which can be combined with wiser and more efficient spending (one part would be to change the government monetary allocation system, which is a long post in and of itself), go hard after Islamic extremists in ALL countries that support them, and drilling on American “soil” combined with alternative energy research.

What are your top 3 to start with?

Cross posted at Pirate’s Cove, Right Wing News, and Stop The ACLU

Redacted: I goofed when reading the story this am, read too much in to it through a link at a hard left site. But, not going to disappear it down the memory hole. We all make mistakes.

From a press release Monday

“Tomorrow, I’ll call for lifting the federal moratorium for states that choose to permit exploration. I think that this, and perhaps providing additional incentives for states to permit exploration off their coasts, would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis. We’ve seen the impact of it in the form of food prices, the form of gasoline, and the form of threats of inflation, and indeed indications of inflation. We must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gases through the development of alternative energy sources. And, as I said, exploration is a step toward the longer term goal. And, I will repeat my advocacy of a gas tax holiday, which is impacting low-income Americans on a fixed income who are driving automobiles that consume gasoline at a greater rate, and they’re driving further, and I think that they deserve a break.

That’s a good start that goes to the heart of Conservatism: let the States decide. The Gulf Coast states should be no problem, North Carolina could be iffy, California is in a world of its own. The hard left leaning legislature will resist, and the Governator is a tossup. The People will demand drilling, but the hard left courts could stop it.

I think McCain is wrong on ANWR, but, moving on, Democrats, as usual, are blocking every meaningful attempt to extract oil from our won property. They think we should drill in the areas that already have leases, but, wait a moment

The latest example: the Democrats’ “use it or lose it” hoax. Rather than unlocking America’s vast natural energy resources both on land and in deep ocean energy zones – areas with known quantities of oil and gas reserves – the Democratic Majority is suggesting that there are millions of acres of federally-owned land right now under lease that energy companies are not bothering to tap. And they are demanding that the companies “use” the lands or “lose” their lease on them. But there are two problems with the Democrats “use it or lose it” hoax.

First, as House Republican Conference Adam Putnam (R-FL) notes, this policy already is the law of the land. Indeed, federal energy lease holders already must produce oil or natural gas within five to 10 years after drilling on the land begins – and the Secretary of the Interior has the power to cancel the lease if the energy company fails to comply.

Second, it takes years for an energy company to actually begin drilling for oil or gas on federally-owned land; it first must map the land and actually determine that there is oil and gas present before drilling can commence. And even so, according to today’s Wall Street Journal, the federal lands currently under lease for oil and gas exploration aren’t producing much oil and gas in the first place – only about a quarter of those lands are generating any energy, in fact:

“The industry and its backers say such arguments reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the oil industry. Companies don’t know how much oil is under the lands they lease, so they buy up large swaths in the hope that a fraction will work out. Much of the area that isn’t producing, they say, doesn’t have oil or gas in commercially viable quantities.”

“Moreover, bringing a new field into production can require years of mapping, testing, drilling, and construction – during which time the land would show up in statistics as being ‘not in production,’ even as companies spend millions or even billions of dollars to bring it online.”

In other words, just because land is leased, doesn’t mean it is all worthwhile for oil extraction. But, that matters little to Democrats, who are more interested in helping their special interests than the American People.

Credential Media finally notices after months of the issue being pushed hard. Reuters - House Republicans vow push on oil drilling

Congressional Republicans vowed on Thursday to make a major push for more U.S. oil and gas drilling and in the process force Democrats to cast difficult votes at a time of skyrocketing gasoline prices.

With the November congressional and presidential elections looming, Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are blaming each other for rising energy costs and gasoline prices that are topping $4 a gallon.

Republicans cited Democratic opposition to opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and more offshore areas to oil and gas exploration and drilling.

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio said Republicans would try to raise public awareness and force more votes on the issue. He said Republicans would back a comprehensive approach of more oil and gas drilling as well as energy conservation and moves toward alternative fuels supported by Democrats.

News for Reuters: this didn’t just happen on Thursday. They have been pushing for this for a long time. Matter of fact, the GOP has been pushing for this for decades, but Democrats keep blocking it. They are too beholden to their environmentalist fringe lobbyists.

Of course, the Democrats blame the oil companies for not drilling more of the areas that are allowed. Perhaps that is because those areas are not good ones. Instead, the Dems whine about use it or lose it, but, conveniently forget the facts.

And, then there is Nancy

“We cannot drill our way out of this,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California countered. Opening the wildlife refuge in Alaska would reduce U.S. gasoline prices by one penny per gallon, she said. She and other Democrats blame President George W. Bush’s energy policies for the gasoline price spike.

“A barrel of oil now costs four times more than it did when President Bush took office,” Pelosi said. “Two oil men in the White House, cost of oil four times higher. Price at the pump: $4 a gallon.”

And your plan is, Nancy? Hello? Nance? Bueller? It’s worth repeating that the price of gas was the same in Jan 2007 as it was in Jan 2006: $2.20. Now it is $4+. We cannot afford the Pelosi Premium. Her Democrat led House has done nothing to lower energy prices nor increase our supplies. No drilling allowed, no new refineries allowed, no nuclear power plants allowed. No mention of any sorts of new, viable, sensible alternatives to oil, coal, and nuclear.

In his weekly press briefing with reporters this morning, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) took the opportunity to highlight Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) dismal voting record on the issue of American energy production. While Boehner has voted 46 times in the past 18 years to increase the production of American-made energy, Speaker Pelosi has only done so twice. To view their complete voting record, click here.

The American people deserve to know why they are paying an average of $4.06 per gallon for gasoline today. One glance at Speaker Pelosi’s voting record makes it clear why. She and her Democratic colleagues have put up numerous roadblocks on America’s path to energy independence – roadblocks that have left our nation at the mercy of foreign competitors. Since Democrats took control of Congress in January 2007, the American people have seen gas prices skyrocket 74% and they can’t afford to keep paying this Pelosi Premium.

and

Democrats in Congress are getting pummeled on the issue of gas prices these days. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) admitted he is just fine with higher gas prices, and not only have congressional Democrats blocked efforts to lower them, they have proposed higher gas taxes that will make the struggles of families and small businesses even worse. A story in The Hill highlights Republicans’ efforts to fight back and showcase their energy plan to lower gas prices

I hope Senator McCain is going to jump in to this issue, and become more vocal about highlighting that it is Democrats who are the ones blocking America’s ability to increase its own supply of energy.

CNS News

“The United States has an opportunity to help increase the supply of oil on the market,” thereby easing gasoline prices for hard-working Americans,” President Bush said on Monday.

He reminded Congress that he has proposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Continental Shelf to domestic oil drilling — something that would “help us through this difficult period.”

Citing concerns about the environment, the Democrat-led Congress has so far refused to go along with domestic oil drilling.

Let’s rewrite that

Citing massive hissy fits from environmentalists who donate massively to Democrats, the Democrat-led Congress has so far refused to help the American People by allowing drilling, building of new nuclear plants and refineries, and anything else that could help ease gas prices.

That’s better. As gas is crossing the $4 mark, we are still awaiting the plan from Nancy Pelosi and The Donkeys. You know, the one they promised when campaigning for the 2006 elections, which, like virtually everything else, they have either ignored or done nothing about. Heck, even the Left is upset with Nancy P. et all for doing nothing, particularly impeachment. How much has it gone up?

“As a result of this dubious milestone, motorists will pay on average $1.67 more per gallon than they were when the 110th Congress began. This represents a 71 percent increase during Nancy Pelosi’s speakership,” said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference.

The price of gas was $1.52 on average in January 2001. In January 2006, it was around $2.33. In January 2007, it was around $2.33. That’s an 81 cent rise. Over 6 years. With gas prices being pretty stagnent for almost a year. And as soon as the Democrats took over, gas prices surged $1.67 in a year and a few months.

Sure, you cannot blame it all on them. Things are happening. The demand for oil, particularly from China and India, continues to surge. Democrats are not fully responsible for the fear and, yes, greed, in the markets who are trading. But, it is the Democrats who have blocked all meaningful attempts to reduce our 60% reliance on foreign oil since the 70’s.

Democrats call Republicans beholden to big business. Well, at least big business helps the American People the majority of the time. Democrats are beholden to special interests who couldn’t give a damn about the American People, just their own narrow viewpoints. And Democrats want to apparently continue the harm to the American People, simply to continue raking in the special interests money.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement after AAA reported that the price of gasoline reached $4 per gallon for the first time in history:

“Today marks another dubious day for this Do-Nothing Democratic Congress. On their watch, gas prices have soared to new heights, and by refusing to schedule a vote on a plan to increase American-made energy to help lower gas prices, congressional Democrats are complicit in this unprecedented surge in fuel costs. In the face of $4 per gallon gasoline, it is inexcusable that Democrats in charge of Congress will not take meaningful action to help reduce the pain at the pump on behalf of all consumers – and in the interest of our entire economy.

“House Republicans have put forth a comprehensive plan to help lower gas prices by harnessing new technologies and unlocking America’s natural energy resources in an environmentally-responsible way. Every American has a right to ask: What will it take for the Democrat-controlled Congress to finally take action and help ease the pain of the Pelosi Premium on behalf of struggling families and small businesses? Speaker Pelosi has the power to schedule a vote on our plan to begin breaking America’s costly dependence on foreign sources of energy. She should not wait another day to do so.”

Nancy will never allow it to see the light of day. Democrats are all talk, no action.

Looks like the GOP used the time that Rush’s Operation Chaos gave them to put together a concerted and well researched website which introduces Barack Obama to the American people. Check it out.

Interesting, if they would only stay with the plan, rather then do what they said they wouldn’t do, which was a large part of their loss in 2006

Conservative Republicans in the House plan to urge their colleagues to rally behind a new manifesto that mixes antispending initiatives and tighter restrictions on government benefits as the party seeks a fresh message after a string of election defeats.

Leaders of the Republican Study Committee intend to use a closed-door party meeting on Tuesday to present a seven-point proposal calling for a constitutional limit on federal spending, a new simplified income tax alternative and a proposal to require recipients of food stamps or housing aid to meet work requirements.

“Clearly, we have been sobered by three special election losses in a row,” said Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas, chairman of the group of more than 100 Republican lawmakers. “We are sobered by the massive cash advantage that Democrats have to get their message out.”

Perhaps they could start by following in the footsteps of John McCain and saying they will not follow the pork route. Oh, and grow a pair and start fighting back against Democrats.